Cindy Potter: Book Two (Harry Potter fanfiction)

Chapter 9

"What an idiot." - Hermione Granger

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Lockhart began a dueling club. Ron and Harry had dragged me there in hopes of seeing Lockhart embarrass himself. Father would be his opponent. I had to admit I was a bit excited. I grabbed my wand off my bed and headed down the stairs. "Cindy!" I turned to see Hermione. "Aren't you excited?! After all the things we've read in books, we'll finally be able to see it for ourselves, his legendary skills!"

I took a deep breath. "Hermione. If you don't recall, last week he released a whole bunch of Cornish pixies, destroying a whole classroom in the process, then he ran off and left the mess to us!" Hermione brushed my words off.

"He obviously wanted to give us some hands on experience!" I rolled my eyes and walked away.

I met Luna outside the Gryffindor common room and we headed down to the dueling club together. My first thought was: Father looked like he'd rather be drinking the draught of living death. Lockhart was just grinning widely at the fan girls. I walked beside Father. "Get that idiot good." Father shot me a knowing look. With that, I rejoined the crowd.

Lockhart walked up on the stage and began to talk. "In light of recent events, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little dueling club!" The Lockhart fan club cheered. I just glanced at Father. He looked impatient. "Professor Snape here, has kindly agreed to be my assistant. Now not to worry, you'll still have your potions master when I'm done with him. Some girls stared in awe. I just scowled.

Father and Lockhart stepped up onto the stage in the dueling position with their backs facing each other. On the count of 3, they both raised their wands and slowly began to step away from each other. After ten steps, they spun around and aimed their wand at each other. "On the count of three. One. Two. Three-"

"Expelliarmus!" Lockhart's wand flew out of his hand as he was shot backwards ten feet. Ron, Harry, and I laughed hysterically as the girls fussed over him.

"D'you think he's alright?" Hermione whimpered.

"Who cares?" Ron and I said in unison. Luna stared curiously at Father. I would ask her about it later.

"Excellent!" I snapped my head up to see Lockhart getting up. "Very nice, Professor Snape. Although it would've been all too easy if I wished to stop it."

"Perhaps, it would be a good idea to teach the students to defend themselves against unfriendly spells first, Professor?" Lockhart seem to snap out of a trance.

"Yes...yes! Let's have a volunteer pair, shall we? Potter! And Weasley."

"Weasley's wand causes devastation at the simplest of spells. We'll be sending Potter to the hospital wing in a matchbox." I clung tight to Harry's sleeve. "Might I suggest someone from my own house? Malfoy?" My eyes widened at this. I stood up and walked up to the front. Father narrowed his eyes at me: "Not you! Mr. Potter!" Harry walked up and Lockhart whispered good luck to him.

"Wands at the ready!"

"Scared, Potter?" I heard Malfoy hiss.

"You wish." Harry replied back just as quietly.

"On the count of three! One. Two-" Before Lockhart had finished his speech, Draco had sent a jet of light at Harry, causing him to shoot backwards. Luckily, Harry got back to his feet within seconds and aimed his wand at Draco.

"Rictusempra!" He doubled over laughing uncontrollably.

"I said disarm only!" Of course, everyone ignored Lockhart and his feeble attempts to regain the attention.